U.s. Power Wasted On Bombing, Not Building

June 5, 1999

I was lucky to be in Fort Lauderdale on May 1 and 2. We were delighted when we heard that the Air & Sea Show was that weekend.

We were not disappointed. The air show was spectacular. The grace, the speed, the dexterity, the power. All that power to defend our shores and our interests, to help defend our friends and allies. I was proud.

But that is not what that power is being used for. It is being used to destroy a nation that we will probably have to restore. My pride turned to regret. This was not my war.

Our "patriots" will say that it is to end the genocide. What genocide? I have not heard of millions being killed. I have not heard of hundreds of thousands being slaughtered. I have not heard of tens of thousands being murdered. I have heard of hundreds being killed. I have heard of rape, killing, destruction of homes and villages. It's despicable and inhuman, but what's happening in Kosovo is not genocide. I have read that more people have been killed by our bombing than by the Serbs.

Could we not use the billions of dollars that are being used to destroy Yugoslavia to provide comfort to the displaced persons? Recognize that most will not want to go back, that there will be nothing to go back to. Build communities, build infrastructure, build, not destroy. Help the desperately poor countries that the refugees are going to. Imagine what $10 billion could do for the host countries and the refugees. Imagine the billions of dollars that it will cost the United States to rebuild Yugoslavia.

Is it too late for our leaders to reognize what is happening, and what will happen if we persist? Is it too late to right a wrong?